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The word ‘Kaamatan’ originates from the Kadazandusun word ‘tomot’, meaning harvest - May 27, 2025
Sabah’s annual Pesta Kaamatan is more than a festival—it is a cultural cornerstone of gratitude, tradition, and community among the Kadazandusun and other indigenous groups
PESTA Kaamatan, or Tadau Kaamatan as it is locally known, is Sabah’s vibrant harvest festival held each May, culminating in a two-day public celebration on the 30th and 31st. Primarily observed by the Kadazandusun community and other native ethnic groups, it marks both an end and a beginning—the close of the rice harvesting season and the start of new blessings.
“The word ‘Kaamatan’ originates from the Kadazandusun word ‘tomot’, meaning harvest,” explains one organiser. It refers specifically to the harvesting of rice, traditionally using sickles. Rooted in gratitude and spirituality, the event pays homage to Bambaazon, the rice spirit, and to Kinoingan, the creator deity who is honoured for granting abundance.
According to ancient belief, Pesta Kaamatan commemorates the self-sacrifice of Huminodun, daughter of Kinoingan and his wife Suminundu. In a time of famine, she gave her life so that her body might be sown into the earth, resulting in a harvest that sustained the Kadazandusun people. Her spirit is believed to dwell in rice, and thus must be celebrated and appeased.
Though Pesta Kaamatan shares similarities with Sarawak’s Hari Gawai—which is observed by the Iban and Bidayuh communities on 1 and 2 June—it remains distinct in date and demographic. While Hari Gawai belongs to the Dayak of Sarawak, Pesta Kaamatan is cherished by the Kadazandusun, Murut, and Rungus peoples of Sabah and Labuan.
Celebrations span the month, with major festivities featuring ritual ceremonies led by a Bobohizan, or high priestess. These rituals seek blessings for future harvests. The mood is one of joy, marked by traditional dances such as the Sumazau, which mimics the graceful flight of eagles, and the Magunatip, a bamboo dance historically performed to honour spirits and protect crops.
Guests can expect feasts showcasing delicacies such as tapai (fermented glutinous rice or tapioca), hinava (a raw fish salad), and butod (sago grub), all shared in the spirit of kinship and merriment. Throughout the celebrations, communities display vibrant traditional attire, local handicrafts, and perform folk music and games.
Among the most anticipated events is the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant. More than a contest of appearances, it is a cultural homage to Huminodun’s virtue, grace, and selflessness. “It symbolises the eternal beauty and strength that our people honour in her memory,” says one community elder.
Pesta Kaamatan is more than a festival; it is a reaffirmation of identity, gratitude, and collective spirit among the indigenous people of Sabah. - May 27, 2025